Sir Harry Burns speculates that separation could lead to Scots taking more
responsibility for their own bodies.

Scotland’s abysmal health record could improve after independence if it made people feel more control of their lives, a former chief medical officer has speculated.

Sir Harry Burns said separation could be “very positive” if Scots felt better able to “engage” with the authorities and make choices that would improve their health.

Scotland has been long known as the “sick man of Europe”, with higher alcohol and tobacco consumption and obesity levels. Although health policy is already devolved to the Scottish Parliament, Glasgow has the UK’s lowest life expectancy.

However, senior SNP ministers have recently argued that a separate Scotland could afford a more generous state pension because its citizens have shorter retirements and die younger.

Speaking to the Crossfire programme on BBC Radio Scotland, Sir Harry said: "The question is, would people in an independent country feel more in control of their lives?

"If they did, then that would be very positive for their health. If people felt that they were able to engage more with local government, with central government and make choices more easily for themselves then that would improve their health."

Sir Harry, who stepped down in January after eight years as Scotland’s top doctor, said this would "depend very much on the political decisions that are made". He also said he feared for the way the health service was going in England.

Meanwhile, Richard Holloway, the former Bishop of Edinburgh and Val McDermid, the crime writer, came out in favour of independence.

Bishop Holloway, the former Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said: “There has been little recognition on the unionist side that the British political system is broken.

“The major factor in my own mistrust is outrage at the wars we have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan for no valid moral purpose.”

But the MP for England’s most northern constituency urged people from all over the UK to cooperate in the building of a cairn on the border at Gretna.

Rory Stewart, the Tory MP for Penrith and the Border, said the cairn – titled the Auld Acquaintance – would be built over the next few months as a symbol of the UK’s commitment to stay together.

Speaking as the founding stone was laid, Mr Stewart invited individuals or families to bring their own stone or use traditional slate, lime and sand stones supplied on site.